Oh Daddy lyric discussion

[EveryHour]

I was re-watching the Rumours "Classic Albums" DVD last weekend, and it really got me thinking about the lyrics to Oh Daddy. I know that many of you dislike this song, but I have to agree with Mick and Stevie...this is a Christine favorite for me. It is absolutely haunting...vocally, lyrically and intrumentally. Christine's vocal is pristine, and the harmonies stunning (patricularly Stevie's as can be heard so well on the Rumours audio DVD.....GOD I love when she sings low harmony with Christine! Chills.) I know one option would have been for me to check out the Lyric Interpretations section of The Ledge, but I have to admit, that format of analyzing lyrics bores me to tears.

**As a complete and utter sidebar, I also have to mention that when they showed the clip from the Rosebud documentary of the Rumours back cover photo shoot, I suddenly noticed for the first time that Stevie's dress was a beautiful dark grey satin. It threw me for a loop because I've looked at those photos so many times and the lighting makes it appear as kind of an off-white polyester. I was always intrigued that she chose what appeared to be such a plain dress for the official photo shoot for what they clearly knew was going to be a major album. But, alas, I was wrong. It is gorgeous when you see the reality of it.**

Anyway, in the Rumours DVD, Christine and Mick both talk about how the song was written for Mick (nothing we didn't know). They mostly relate it to Mick being a father and Christine writing it from that perspective. This could make sense for some of the lyrics ("Oh daddy, you soothe me with your smile / You're letting me know you're the best thing in my life" or maybe even "I'm so weak but you're so strong"...a child viewing their father as a protector), but other than that the lyrics seem completely inappropriate for involving children. Yet some of the lyrics seem a bit extreme for Christine to be saying to Mick outside of a romantic relationship. Certainly perhaps some of them portray her allegience to Mick both as a friend and as the man who strives to keep The Mac together despite emotional turmoil ("And I can't walk away from you, baby if I tried"). Perhaps the song is many perspectives or Mick wrapped into one, but even at that I still don't know what to make of the lyrics that seem more geared toward a lover or ex-lover ("How can you love me, I don't understand why", "If there's been a fool around, it's got to be me", "Why are you right when I'm so wrong?"). Or, am I reading too much into it, and Christine just chose some of the lyrics becasue they sounded good? Though most of her songs seem to stem from something emotional or personal, I could see her being more willing to throw some things in just for the sake of "rounding out the song", than, say, Stevie who would be more insistent that every line is truth.

What do ya'll think?